Project pumpkin pie, cj7 expo

[Mikecj81]

Building up my 81 cj7 for expedition use. I am planning a week long expedition to sw Colorado next year in September. This is what I got on it right now.
Stock axles, 4.10 gears
One piece axles, tru-track locker in rear
Warn Hubs on front
T176 trans 4sp
D300
4.2 i6
3" suspension
2" body
8000lb. Winch

Looking to..

Get Howell fuel injection kit, so jeep idles, runs better
T-5 tranny ( need overdrive)
Take the 2" body lift off
Replace 33x12.50x15's with stock rubicon wheels and tires think they are 32's 10.50's
Disc brake kit for rear
Soft top
Safari Congo rack
Oversized tent cot w/ legs off and custom brackets to attach to Congo rack.
Organized draw system in rear, w/ lightweight rack (removable to turn into table)
Ordering blank dash..all gauges, ipod,iPad, gps, stereo...ect
Onboard air system
Small power converter
Good ice chest or refridgerator

If you got any ideas or suggestions I am all ears.
Thanks for the space

I think that should get me pretty much anywhere I want to go

 

[jscusmcvet]

I would pay some attention to armor to make sure that if you get hung you can drag yourself off with the winch without doing any damage. I like your build so far.

John

 

[reece146]

Replace 33x12.50x15's with stock rubicon wheels and tires think they are 32's 10.50's

You can't put TJ or JK wheels on a CJ7. The bolt pattern does not match.

I'd be inclined to stick with a strong 4 speed transmission over a T-5. With 4.10 gears and 33s you will be close to ideal RPMs for highway cruise in 4th (1:1). Do the math but I'm pretty sure it would be close enough that it doesn't matter.

Never put a T-5 in a vehicle on purpose. If you really want that fifth gear, an AX-15 would be a better choice. It doesn't take much to mate a Dana 300 to an AX-15 IIRC.

HTH

 

[trust]

agreed, an AX15 or better, an NV4500 would be a better choice. For the wheels and tires, as mentioned, you cant go to a TJ or JK, but you can go to a 16" rim and match the tire size which may be a good idea although the 33 with 4/10s are a very good match to the 258. If you can swing it the MOPAR efi along with a 4.0 head makes more power and better mileage than the TBI inject systems, but TBI is still an improvement over the carb.

Try to keep the load down low, keep the sway bar, Id go with adjustable shocks so you have more control over the damping with the variable weight your jeep will see. Pay attention to your springs, may even need to add air bags or helpers to keep adequate clearance when loaded. Make sure your interior storage contains your gear, nothing more annoying than having your junk floating around the cab with you. Refrigerator is a good idea, Ice isnt always available and is a pita on a long trip. One friend uses his ARB to freeze containers of ice for his conventional ice chest, that allows him to carry frozen food and stuff that just needs to be kept cool.

Why the disc brakes on the rear? good idea but I'd do a Vanco hydro boost first and then see if you want the rear discs. There are not kits I'm aware of anyway, what was teh plan for them with your M20 rear? I would have suggested a rear dana44 inlieu of spending any on the m20 but since youve done the axles and the true track I guess I wont suggest that. You may want to research some of the m20 mods though, the tubs are supposedly prone to bending so you might want a truss and the rosette welds holding the tubes to the center section are supposed to need reinforcement so check all that sort of thing and make sure your rear end is up to the load it will see

have fun! when youre ready let me know and I will point you to some good spots in SW Colorado

 

[Mikecj81]

I forgot to mention that I am getting adapters from my cj pattern to the jk pattern, it works out cause I have the narrow trac axles so I need the extra 2" to get my tires out there.

Yeah looks like I need to do some research on the tranny, cause I didn't want to get rid of the t176 in the first place.

On my rear 20, it is already built up ( moser one piece axles, locker, welded tubes to diff) you are right I do need a truss, adding that to the list. When I bought jeep 3 years ago someone had put together a rear disc brake junk yard kit on it from a 280z he said, that's why I want to get rid of that setup cause it does not work to good and I need my parking brake to work.

What kinda shocks would y'all recommend?

 

[reece146]

Yeah looks like I need to do some research on the tranny, cause I didn't want to get rid of the t176 in the first place.

On my rear 20, it is already built up ( moser one piece axles, locker, welded tubes to diff) you are right I do need a truss, adding that to the list. When I bought jeep 3 years ago someone had put together a rear disc brake junk yard kit on it from a 280z he said, that's why I want to get rid of that setup cause it does not work to good and I need my parking brake to work.

What kinda shocks would y'all recommend?

Just run the T176 till it breaks - if it breaks. Some people can break parts pulling out of their garage, others have no issues ever.

What's wrong with the rear brake setup? If he followed the Zuki/Nissan rear brake thread on Pirate4x4 it should work fine. You might need to adjust the brake balance is all.

 

[Mikecj81]

Just run the T176 till it breaks - if it breaks. Some people can break parts pulling out of their garage, others have no issues ever.

What's wrong with the rear brake setup? If he followed the Zuki/Nissan rear brake thread on Pirate4x4 it should work fine. You might need to adjust the brake balance is all.

Not sure what's wrong with brakes but I am going to check the pirate4x4 out.

 

[Mikecj81]

almost current pic, only thing missing is my new seats and switched back to the cj rear fender flares.

 

[Mikecj81]

I have been doing some more research on the howell tbi kit, and i found that the system works great for 6 months then it starts to go down hill. So i am thinking i want to do a 4.0 obd1 swap. It would be around the same amount of money for both, and everyone who has done the swap says its the best thing they done to there jeep. I have read all the threads and write ups on everything you need and what needs to be done, and i feel confident on installing myself.

What do you think? tbi or 4.0 swap?

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Mike, glad to see you went back to the CJ flares!! I like that look a lot better myself.

Tranny- Keep the T 176!! I have a T-4, (same as the T-5 minus OD) They are not as heavy duty as the 176. I also have 4:10's and 33's, and can cruise at 70 all day while towing my M416. The RPM's are up there, and OD would be nice, but it's not necassary. I've driven my CJ across country to Moab and back, 3000 miles round trip!

M20 axle- You have a good start, and a truss will help a lot. But, the tubes are still light, and can bend. Bent mine wheeling, and after a few months, the axle shaft finally broke from being out of line a touch.

Brakes- the brake mod, using Datsun 280Z calipers and Samuri front rotors, is a good one. I looked into it for my CJ, but the cost of the 280 calipers made me hold off. (almost $300 for calipers:snorkel

The 280 calipers have the parking brake feature, and from my research, the set up works great. Hopefully you can save the set up you have (if it was done right)

Good luck with the build! I'm returning my '80 CJ7 from a 'wheeler' to a 'Sunny day Dairy Queen Cruiser' !!

 

[Mikecj81]

Mike, glad to see you went back to the CJ flares!! I like that look a lot better myself.

Tranny- Keep the T 176!! I have a T-4, (same as the T-5 minus OD) They are not as heavy duty as the 176. I also have 4:10's and 33's, and can cruise at 70 all day while towing my M416. The RPM's are up there, and OD would be nice, but it's not necassary. I've driven my CJ across country to Moab and back, 3000 miles round trip!

M20 axle- You have a good start, and a truss will help a lot. But, the tubes are still light, and can bend. Bent mine wheeling, and after a few months, the axle shaft finally broke from being out of line a touch.

Brakes- the brake mod, using Datsun 280Z calipers and Samuri front rotors, is a good one. I looked into it for my CJ, but the cost of the 280 calipers made me hold off. (almost $300 for calipers:snorkel

The 280 calipers have the parking brake feature, and from my research, the set up works great. Hopefully you can save the set up you have (if it was done right)

Good luck with the build! I'm returning my '80 CJ7 from a 'wheeler' to a 'Sunny day Dairy Queen Cruiser' !!

yeah those rear fenders were not working for me, had to go back.

think everyone here has talked me into keeping the t176

once i get my front bearings in and front axle all together i am going to get on those rear brakes...they just donot engage to well. and i need to get the ebrake cable for it

I am glad to see another cj that is a expedition vehicle, it gives me more confidence in my build

 

[Hill Bill E.]

I am glad to see another cj that is a expedition vehicle, it gives me more confidence in my build

I love taking my CJ out! If I don't take my M416 with, I take the XJ.

But, I'm selling the XJ, and going back to a SWB rig for wheeling.

The CJ is going under (yet another) rebuild, more of a 'de-mod':elkgrin:

I've pulled the lockers out, and went back to an 'Open-Open' configuration, as it's more road friendly.

My wife doesn't care much for long road trips, so when I do get out, it's just me, or one of my boys and myself, so the CJ works well.

I can fit everything I need in it, and use the M416 as a 'basecamp', or just drag the trailer with me.

Basically, I'm making the CJ more, dare I say it, 'Expedition Friendly' and not so much a 'rock crawler'

The 'new' maiden voyage is at the end of Sept. Going to spend a week up near the Canadian border in the Arrowhead/Gunflint area. Do some fishing, upland bird hunting, moose watching, and just generally getting away from it all for a week!

I haven't driven the CJ in almost a year, since I broke an axle shaft in the rear. Going to be different, running it without lockers for the first time in 5 years!!:coffeedrink:

 

[truck mechanic]

Not a cj, but a Scout, I thought about doing a rear disc brake set up. But I put a master and hydro boost set up off a 4 wheel drive astro van, stops great now. No need for rear disc. $30 bucks for the jy hb set up plus lines. Less than $100 and it stops on a dime with 33in tires.
Paul

 

[Mikecj81]

The CJ is going under (yet another) rebuild, more of a 'de-mod':elkgrin:

I've pulled the lockers out, and went back to an 'Open-Open' configuration, as it's more road friendly.

Basically, I'm making the CJ more, dare I say it, 'Expedition Friendly' and not so much a 'rock crawler'

What else are u doing to it? are u keeping the t-4?

 

[Mikecj81]

Started changing my front passenger side wheel bearings today, finally found right sized socket. But when i got the first nut off , there was another nut and my socket wasnt that deep...so i had to bushcraft a tool to get the nut off. It wasnt that tight and my homebrew tool worked!

The outer bearings were toast, it was so dry in the assembly. I looked at my spindle and it looked a lil jazzed, so i dug into my extra front axle. Everything on my extra axle looked 100% better than what was on my jeep..so i just swapped out everything. Including the stock locking hub for the warn locking hub. Not all the bolts fit into the hub one bolt is left out(see in pic). I dont think they are the right locking hubs for the cj. So i am going back to the stock locks, and keeping the warn for replacement.

i have all parts but i had to order a deep socket 2'' 1/16. Found on some offroad site for $8.99. So i have to wait til it comes in next week so i can get it torqued down correctly...sucks cause i wanted to drive around for the holiday weekend.

I am going to build a stand for my extra rear axle and fab up a truss tomorrow.